Week in Review

Sept. 6, 2013
Here is the latest edition of Week In Review - a series of weekly messages from the Mayor and City Council to help Richardson residents and businesses keep up to date on events at City Hall.

City Council to Vote on Budget on Monday
The Richardson City Council is expected to formally approve the 2013-2014 Budget and the proposed tax rate of $0.63516 per $100 of assessed valuation, unchanged from the 2012-2013 rate, at a public meeting Monday in the City Council Chamber at City Hall.

The final public meeting in this year’s budget process is open to the public and will begin at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will also be broadcast live on the City website at cor.net and on the City cable TV station (channel 16 on Time Warner and channel 99 on AT&T U-Verse).

Workers are nearly done tagging all materials in the Richardson Public Library’s collection as implementation of a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system continues.

RFID uses tags to track and sort items as they are checked out and returned, allowing for more efficient management of the Library’s collection.

The next step in the project, which is funded through the 2010 Bond Program, is to install self-service checkout kiosks and updated staffed checkout stations, as well as a new automated materials handling system. Installation of the new systems is tentatively scheduled for mid-October.

City to Conduct Ground Spraying for Mosquitos This Weekend
The Richardson Health Department plans to ground spray two areas beginning tonight, weather permitting, in order to help prevent the spread of the West Nile virus. Planned spraying was postponed until Saturday and Sunday in the area from Arapaho Road south to Spring Valley Road and Coit Road east to Central Expressway (US 75), in order to accommodate numerous residents who are expected to be outdoors for football games and other activities.

The decision to spray comes after City Health Department workers were notified that traps located within the subject spraying location returned mosquitoes that tested positive for carrying the disease.

The spray areas are:

East Lookout Drive south to Apollo Road; Plano Road east to Jupiter Road. The spraying is scheduled to take place Friday and Saturday nights, between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Arapaho Road south to Spring Valley Road; Coit Road east to Central Expressway (US 75). The spraying is scheduled to take place Saturday and Sunday nights, between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Richardson began its West Nile virus monitoring program in April, which is the earliest it has ever begun testing for signs of the virus. The Richardson City Council approved increased surveillance this year due to the heightened incidence of West Nile virus cases experienced in the Metroplex in 2012.

For more information on Richardson's mosquito abatement program please visit cor.net/mosquito.

Lanes to be Closed Sunday for Corporate Challenge Bike Race

Several lanes of traffic will be closed from 8 a.m. to approximately 11 a.m. this Sunday for the Corporate Challenge Bike Race. The following roads will be impacted:

Westbound Campbell Road between Collins Boulevard and Waterview Drive – one or two lanes closed

Tales for Tails at the Library
Children in kindergarten through fourth grade are invited to read to dogs from Heart of Texas Therapy Dogs at Tales for Tails, set for 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday in the Richardson Public Library’s Basement Program Room.

For more information, call 972-744-4358.

Spectacular Senior Follies at the Eisemann Center
Spectacular Senior Follies will be performed at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Eisemann Center. The variety show will include music, dancing and much more.

Tickets cost $15 to $50 and are available by calling 972-744-4650 or online at eisemanncenter.com.

Texas Stamp Dealers, Dallas Bead Market at Civic Center
The Texas Stamp Dealers Association will hold a Stamp Show until 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Richardson Civic Center. Learn more about the free show at tsdastamps.com.

The Dallas Bead Market will come to the Civic Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The public is welcome to attend the free show. Learn more at thebeadmarket.net.

Richardson Animal Shelter Pet of the Week
Lil Bit is a happy, sweet, playful and cuddly guy. He was found as a stray, and we think he's about a year old. Lil Bit is not neutered, he is current on all his vaccinations and is litterbox trained. He seems to get along with everyone and we would love to see him find a home soon.